Rat, bird, and rabbit trap.



No. 829,023. PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906.

E. P. LOWER.-

RAT, BIRD, AND RABBIT TRAP. APPLICATION FILED JANJZB. 1906.

f4 q v tnaoaco 5 5 azm :2, FM M @Z M aw,

ms uomws PETERS cm, wAsHnva'roN, n. c.

ED'WARD P. LOWER, OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

RAT, BIRD, AND RABBIT TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906. 1

Application filed January 23, 1906. Serial No. 297,394.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. LOWER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hot Springs, in the county of Garland and State of Arkansas,have invented new and useful Improvements in Rat,Bird,and Rabbit Traps,of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in traps, andwhile it is primarily intended for use as a rat, bird, or rabbit trap itmay be used in all cases where applicable.

The object of my invention is the production of a device of this classthat can be manufactured at a small cost, be easily packed for shipment,and answer all the purposes of an uptodate trap.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts as set forth in the specificationand claims hereunto attached.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by likecharacters throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a plan view of thetop of my invention, the side and end pieces being spread out. Fig. 2 isa bottom plan view of my invention, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of myinvention.

My invention is described as follows: The numeral 1 represents the topof my invention, which consists of side pieces 2 and end pieces 3 and 3.One-end of said side pieces 2 is provided with catches 4, one of theends of which are loosely secured to said side pieces, their outer freeends being adapted to partly encircle correspondin transverse wires ofsaid end piece 3, and t us hold said side and end pieces securelytogether when the top is in its normal position. Each of said end pieces2 is provided at each of its ends with downwardly-extending loops 5, thepurpose of which'will be more fully hereinafter described. Said trap isalso provided with a top or upper piece 6, which is hinged to saidpieces 2, 3, and 3 by means of hinges 6. Secured in any desired mannerto one of the ends of top 6 and the inner end of said end piece 3 is acoiled spring 7, the purpose of which will be more fully hereinafterdescribed. Hinged at its outer ends near the middle part of said endpiece 3 by means of hinges 7 is a V-shaped lever 8, the inner end ofwhich lever is hooked over a hook 8, provided at the upper extremity ofa trigger 9, which extends downwardly into my improved trap and isprovided with the usual hook for bait. Said lever 8 is fulcrumed nearits outer ends over the said coiled spring 7. The numeral 10 representsmy improved bottom, which bottom is provided near each corner with ahook 11. he said top of my invention is secured to said bottom 10 bypassing said loops 5 of said pieces 2 through perforations provided ateach corner of said bottom. Said extensions 5 and hooks 11 arecountersunk or brought perfectly flush with the lower face of saidbottom by providing said bottom near each corner with a depression 12.If so desired, the said top may be secured to said bottom by pegs 13.Said bottom is also provided with a catch 14 and spring 15, the innerends of which are secured to theupper face of said bottom.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The different parts beingassembled or secured together in the manner described, the bait isplaced on the lower hooked end of said trigger. The rat, bird, or rabbitenters the trap and nibbles at the bait, causing said lever 8 to becomereleased and spring upwardly, the action of said transverse springcausing saidend piece 3 to be at the same time sprung downwardly and belocked at its lower end in said catch 14, and thus hold said piecessecurely in position.

The purpose of having the top of the trap constructed as shown at Fig. 1is to enable me to fold it, so that it may be conveniently shipped. Indoing this the ends 3 and 3 are folded over the top of the top piece 6,in which case the V-shaped lever may be turned "on its hinges 7 and belaid down flat on the top piece 6, the side parts being then turnedunder.

The purpose of the depressions 12 is to countersink the ends of theloops 5 and hooks 11, so that they will not be broken in shipmg. pHaving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A trap, consisting of a top 1 and bottom 10., said top consisting ofside pieces 2, and end pieces 3 and 3; catches 4, secured at their innerends to one end of said side pieces 2, their outer free ends beingadapted to partly encircle said end pieces 3; downwardl -ex tendingloops 5,-provided at each end 0 said end pieces 2; a top piece 6, hingedto said pieces 2, 3, and 3 by means of hinges 6 a coiled spring7,\secured to one of the ends of top 6, and inner end of said end piece3; a

Vshaped lever 8, hinged at its outer ends near the middle part of saidend piece 3 by hinges 7; a trigger 9, provided at its upper extremitywith a hook 8, and at its lower. end

with a bait-hook; a bottom. 10, provided near each corner w th aperforation and a hook 11, said hooks and extensions 5 being countersunkor brought perfectly flush with the lower face of said bottom byproviding said bottom with depressions 12; a catch 14, secured at itsinner end to the upper face of said bottom, and a spring 15, alsosecured at its inner end to the upper face of said bottom, said trapbeing so constructed that it may be easily and conveniently folded upfor shipment, substantially as shown and described and for the purposesset forth.

2. A trap, consisting of a top and bottom, said top consisting of sideand end pieces; catches, secured at their inner ends to one 'end of saidside pieces, the outer ends of said catches being adapted to partlyencircle said end pieces; downwardly extending loops,

provided at each end of said side pieces; a

near each corner with a perforation and hook, 'said hooks beingcountersunk or brought perfectly flush with the lower face of saidbottorn by providing said bottom with depressions; a catch, secured atits inner end to the upper face of said bottom, and a spring, se-

cured to the upper face of said bottom at its inner end, said trap beingso constructed that it may be folded up and easily packed for shipment,substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

3. An animal-trap, consisting of a bottom, substantially rectangular inshape, having in each corner and on its lower face a depression andthrough each depression a perforation; a top, having hinged to eachedge, sides pro vided at each end and extending from their lower edgesloops adapted to pass through said perforations; hooks, secured in saiddepressions, adapted to pass through said loops and secure them inplace; end pieces, hinged to the ends of said top, and adapted to beturned down forming a box; hooks, adapted to secure together the ends ofsaid side pieces, and ends of the rear end piece; a spiral springsecured to the front end of said top piece, and the upper edge of saidfront end piece, and adapted to hold said front end piece down; aspring-lock, secured to the upper face of the bottom, and adapted tolock said front end piece when down, and a lever, hinged to said frontpiece, fulcrumed on said coiled spring, and adapted to hold up saidfront piece, and be held down by a bait-trigger, substantially as shownand described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

EDWARD P. LOWER.

Witnesses:

LIZZIE PANsZE, R. D. L. BoswELL.

